SWAMY DESIKANS

ADAIKKALAPATHTHU
Annotated Commentary in English By:
Oppiliappan kOil
SrI Varadachari Sathakopan
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CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION 3
PASURAM 1: PATTHI MUDALAMAVARRIL 6
PASURAM 2: SADAIMUDIYAN 8
PASURAM 3: THANTHIRANGAL 9
PASURAM 4: KAHAMIRAKKATHAN 11
PASURAM 5: UKAKKUMAVAI- THE FIVE ANGAMS OF PRAPATTHI 12
PASURAM 6: ALAVUDAYAR THE FOUR KINDS OF PRAPATTHI 13
PASURAM 7: UMATHU ADIGAL ADAIKINREN -- DONE ONLY ONCE FOR A
SINGLE PALAN
14
PASURAM 8: THINMAI KURAYAMAIKKUM -- THE CODE OF CONDUCT AFTER
PRAPATTHI
15
PASURAM 9 17
PASURAM 10: THIRUMAGAL (ATHMA SAMARPANAM, THE ANGI OF
PRAPATTHI)
18
PHALA SRUTHI PASURAM 11 SUMMING UP OF ADAIKKALAPPATTHU
PRABANDHAM
20







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ADAIKKALAPPATTHU
e

INTRODUCTION
Swami Desikan perfomed prapatthi to Sri Varadaraajaa of Hasthigiri in Tamil, which
crystallized as eleven verses including the phala sruthi verse of ADAIKKALAPPATTHU
housed in Desika Prabhandham. These verses are equally sacred in purport to the NyAsa
Dasakam in Sanskrit used for performing SaraNAgathy to Lord Varadaraajan.
Swami Desikan's Araadhana Murthy was Varadaraajan. Time and again, he has offered his
profound salutations to Atthigiri AruLaaLan through his sthothrams such as Sri Varadaraaja
Panchaasath, Meyviratha Maanmiyam, Thirucchinnamaalai and Sri Hasthigiri
Mahaathmyam.
Swami Desikan was born in Thuppul not far from the temple of Varadaraajan, which is
known as PerumaaL Koil. It is revered as one of the seven Mukthi KshEthrams. The Lord
stands on top of a small hill here saluted as Atthigiri in Tamil and Hasthi Giri in Sanskrit.
Here, the Lord responds most affirmatively to all auspicious vrathams of devotees and hence
this kshEthram is known as Sathya Vratha KshEthram. The Lord's greatness is saluted as
Meyviratha Maanmiyam.
The Lord of Hasthigiri has been worshipped from time immemorial as Varadhan,
Devaraajan, DevapperumaaL, AruLaaLan and PeraruLaaLan. He is saluted as KaaruNya
Raasi (the embodiment of Mercy and Dayaa) by Swami Desikan. He is recognized as
Avyaaja Vatsalan (One whose natural disposition is affection for His devotees). He is
recognized as Varadhan or the boon giver par excellence. The beauty of His Divya MangaLa
Vigraham has been enjoyed by Swami Desikan without any satiety.
Swami Desikan has described Sri Varadan as a matchless vessel to cross the tumultuous
ocean of Samsaaraa (Samsaara vaaridhi nidhi santhraNaika pOtham). He is saluted as the
end statement of ALL words (Sarva Vachasaam avasaana seema:). In a most majestic
salutation, Swami Desikan has recognized Him as Nithyam param Sarva Gatham
SusUkshmam nishpandha-nandhathu mayam Bhavatha: svarUpam. Swami Desikan
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untypically is at a loss for words and tries to describe the Lord's form as eternal, superior to
every thing, all pervasive, unobstructed in its power and an embodiment of unalloyed joy).
Swami recovers from his state of being overwhelmed and comes back to his fluent self and
salutes the Lord as Visva aadhisaayee Sukha rUpan (the unmatched embodiment of beauty
in all the three worlds).
Swami Desikan's salutation of Atthigiri AruLaaLan as the tree with its eastern branch as
VaasudEvaa, Western branch as Pradhyumnaa, Southern Branch as SankarshaNaa and the
Northern Branch as Aniruddhaa and Himself at the very centre of the Chathur VyUhams is a
moving tribute (Satthvavantha: ----tava Chathurshvapi sthaanEshu api saakaa vibhaaga
chathurE chaathuraathmeyE jaagrathi). Here Swami says that the pious ones deeply
concentrate in the enjoyment of Him as the Chathur vyUha Moorthy. Swami goes on to adore
Him as the emerald resting in the casket made up of all Upanishads as their Saaraartham
(nikhila Upanishad maneeshaa manjUsjikaa marakatham).
In the Varadaraajaa panchaasath, Swami salutes Him as dasaavathaara SvarUpan, as the
antharyaami as well as Archaavathaaran. Swami Desikan reminds the Lord that his own
anjali is the shield against the Lord's shafts of anger over his sins. Our Achaaryaa melts the
heart of Varadhan by describing Him as the faultless dam over the ocean of Samsaaram
(tvaam yEva abhangura: sEthu asi). He invites the rejuvenating glances of Varadaraajan to
bring him back to life after experiencing the scorching rays of the summer sun of samsaaram.
Swami reminds the Lord that it is not a big effort for Him to take care of him during the
remaining few years on His earth (sEshathva lEsa nayanE ka: iva athibhaara:?).
Frightened over his accumulated sins and their effect on him, Swami Desikan cries out and
begs for the Lord's cool and merciful glances to fall on him (madhuraa: DhayaaLO: tE
kataakshaa: mayi pathanthu). He calls Him as Karisailadhaaman (One who has Hasthigiri as
His place of residence) and begs Him to bless him to travel by archiraadhi maargam at the
end of his days. Swami wants from Varadaraajan the boon of anthima smrithi about Him
(aalOhitha amsukam tvaam anusmarEyam). He confides to Varadhan that the enjoyment of
His beauty in Archaavatharam at Kanchi makes him conclude that the stay in Sri VaikunTam
is not so tempting. Swami concludes his salutation to Varadaraajan with a prayer for
unceasing remembrance (Dhruva smruthi) of Him as a resident of his heart cave.
In the divya prabhandham, Hasthigiri Maahaathmyam, Swami Desikan rightfully concluded
that Kanchi has become the KshEthram that totally cuts asunder all the sins of devotees
because of its sanctity arising from the association with Sri Varadaraajan (atthigiri bhatthar
vinai tottaRa aRukkum aNi AtthigiriyE). The Lord appeared in the uttara vEdhi of
Brahmaa's yaagasaalaa under the PuNyakOti vimaanam as the effulgent radiance. Swami
states that the nithya sUris raised the mangaLa naadham from their Thirucchinnams during
that auspicious occasion (kaahaLi naadhEna karNEshvamruthasEchanam). Swami Desikan
is immersed in the sweet memories of the Lord appearing before Brahmaa as a golden
mountain in the middle of the fire of the yajnam. Wave after wave of memories about the
Lord's glories wash over Swami Desikan and he declares with elation his nectar-like
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experience over those thoughts:
atthigiri aruLaaLap perumaaL vandhaar
karutha varam tharum Dhaivap perumaaL vandhaar
umbhar thozhum kazhaludayaar vandhaar
vaanEra vazhi tanthaar vandhaar thaamE

Swami Desikan celebrated thus the ThrilOka Mahaneeyam Sathyavratha Mahaathmyam in
his prabhandham in a glorious manner. The auspicious sound raised by the NithyasUris
from the Lord's Thirucchinnam reminded him of the comforting sound of MUla Manthram.
The praNava sabdham reminded him once again of the rakshakathvam of Lord
Varadaraajaa. The accompanying Ukaara, Makaara sabdhams and that of the fourth case as
well as the nama: and the NaaraayaNa sabdhams with its own chathur vibhakthi engulfed
our Achaaryaa into an ocean of bliss. He performed his prapatthi immediately to the Lord of
Hasthigiri in grateful appreciation of that extraordinary experience and out poured the ten
verses of Adaikkalappatthu.
Swami Desikan was moved to perform SaraNaagathi after the unmatched nectar-like
experience of tasting the subhaasrayam and the anantha kalyaaNa guNams of Lord
Varadaraajaa presiding over Hasthigiri. He used the Tamil metre of Kocchahakkalippaa to
direct the flow of his emotion, which rushed forth as the gushing water from a dam that had
collapsed.
Desika-Arulaalar Serthi
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SLOKAS AND COMMENTARY
Iman! veqnawayR> kivtaikRk kesrI ,
vedaNtacayR vyae R me sixa< sda id.
SrImaan vENkata naaTHaaryah kavithaarkika kesarI.
vEdaantaachaarya varyO mE sanniDHatthaaM sadaa hRudhi.

PAASURAM 1: PATTHI MUDALAAMAVARRIL

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patthi mudhalAmavaRRuL pathi enakku kUdAmal
eththisaiyum uzhanROdi iLaiththuvizhum kAkampOl
muththi tharum nagarEzhil mukkiyamAm kacchithannil
aththigiri aruLaaLarkku adaikkalam nAn pukunthEnE.

MEANING:
I surrender my soul at the sacred feet of PeraruLaaLan, who resides at the most important of
the seven cities that bless their residents with Moksham. I have come to the realization that I
am powerless to attain moksham through the difficult-to-practice Bhakthi yOgam as
upaayam. I have hence chosen Prapatthi at the lotus feet of Varadhan as the saving grace for
me and am performing saraNaagathi. This act of mine (performance of SaraNaagathi at the
Lord's feet as the helpless one with no other recourse) is like the deed of the evil-minded
Kaakaasuran, who committed grave apachaarams to the Lord's consort and was yet saved by
the Lord, when he fell at the feet of the Lord as a saraNaagathan without any other recourse.

COMMENTS:
The key passage of this slOkam is the statement: Atthigiri AruLaaLarkku adaikkalam naann
puhunthEn. Swamy compares himself to a Mahaa aparaadhi like Kaakaasuran, who ran
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hither nad thither and finally realized that no one can save him from the chasing
Brahmaasthram and fell at the feet of the merciful Lord (yetthisayum ozhanRu Odi iLaitthu
vizhum Kaakam pOl). Swamy points out that he used the difficult to practise Bhakthi
yOgam as the means (upaayam) for Moksham and failed miserably to gain the
Mokshaanugraham (Patthi mudalaam avaRRil pathi yenakku koodamal). Swamy Desikan
states that wandering here and there practising Bhakthi yOgam, he did not succeed in his
efforts to gain Moksham and arrived finally at the most important among the cities that
assure moksham (Viz)., Kaanchi (Mutthi tarum nakar yEzhil mukkiyamaam Kaanchi tanil)
and performed SaraNaagathy at the sacred feet of Lord Varadaraajaa and gained Moksha
Phala siddhi.
Atthigiri Arulaalar
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PAASURAM 2: SADAIMUDIYAN

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sadaimudiyan sathumukanen RivarmuthalAn tharamellA
madaiyavinaip payanAki azhinthuvidum padikaNdu
kadimalarAL piriyAtha kacchinaka raththikiri
idamudaiya varuLALa riNaiyadika LadainthEnE.

MEANING:
Here again ananya gathithvam is celebrated in another way. adiyEn offers my prapatthi at
the sacred feet of PeraruLaaLan while fully cognizant of the fact that the power and wealth of
even Brahmaa and Sivaa are evanescent and transitory and are fully dictated by their karma
visEshams. Once their accumulated puNyams are over, their status as powerful demi-gods
disappears. Knowing their alpa sukhams fully well, I am not enamored of such status and
power. I seek therefore the lasting bliss of moksham and nithya kaimkaryam in the Lord's Sri
Vaikuntam through my prapatthi.
COMMENTS:
SaDai mudiyan and Chathumukhan here refer to Rudran with JaDai as His makutam and
Chathur-Mukha Brahma. Both of them and the other dEvaas are Karma vasyaaLs and enjoy
their hard earned positions until their karma phalans hold up. Once they expend all their
puNyams, they enter samsaaram. Knowing the impermanence of the status of these dEvaas,
Swamy Desikan states that he has opted to perform SaraNaagathy at the matchless pair of
sacred feet of Atthigiri AruLaaLar (Kacchi Nagar Atthigiri idamudaya AruLaaLar iNai
adikaL adainthEn) for gaining the lasting Moksha sukham.
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PAASURAM 3: THANTHIRANGAL

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thanthirangaL vERinRith thamathuvazhi yazhiyAthu
manthirangaL thammAlu maRRumuLa vuraiyAlu
mantharangaN dadipaNivA ranaivarkku maruLpuriyuNY
sinthuraveR piRaiyavanAr seelamala thaRiyEnE

Here, Swami Desikan points out that all are eligible to perform Prapatthi at the lotus feet of
the Lord of Kaanchi and receive the boon of Moksham from that act of self-surrender.

MEANING:
I meditate on the glorious attribute of Varadaraajan, who blesses all without discrimination,
when they perform prapatthi unto Him. These are the virtuous ones, who understand the
difficulties of practicing Bhakthi yOgam and understand well the equal qualifications of all to
perform prapatthi to gain the boon of Moksham. They do not seek any other means than
prapatthi and observe their varNaasrama dharmams without slipping. They utter thereafter
the prapatthi manthram (svanishtai) or follow the utterances of their Achaaryaas (ukthi
Nishtai) and perform their prapatthi to the Lord, who accepts it with joy and rewards them
with the boon of mOksham.

COMMENTS:
Here the Vaibhavam of the Svabhaavam of Lord Varadaraajan is hailed as SaraNaagatha
rakshakan. Swamy Desikan declares that he does not know of any thing mightier than the
souseelyam of Lord Varadaraajan, which propels Him to grant Moksha Sukham to anyone,
who seek His sacred feet as the protective object (Rakshaka vasthu). Souseelyam derives
from the pre-eminent "Seela guNam of the Lord of Atthigiri, which makes Him mingle
even with the lowliest one inspite of His supremely exalted status. The glories of those, who
perform SaraNaagathy at Lord Varadaraajan's auspicious feet are described as antharam
kaNDu, vERu tanthirangaL inRi, tamathu vazhi azhiyaathu, manthirangaL tammaalum,
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maRRum uLa urayaalum adi paNivaar. These knowledgeable ones performing
SaraNaagathy are clear about the differences between Bhakthi and Prapatthi yOgam as the
means for Moksham (antharam kaNDu). They do not seek means other than Prapatthi
(vERu tanthirangaL inRi). They do not swerve from their VarNaasrama dharmams
(Tamathu vazhi azhiyaathu). They use as their guide the Veda Manthrams (ManthirangaL
tammaalum) and the Sri Sookthis of Poorvaachaaryaas (maRRum uLa urayaalum). With the
benefit of this anushtaanam and Jn~aanam, they perform prapatthi at the lotus feet of the
Lord of Atthi Giri and gain Moksha Siddhi.

Sindura Verpu
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PAASURAM 4: KAAHAMIRAAKKATHAN

e e
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te .

kAkamirak kathanmannar kAthalikath thirapanthu
nAgamara nayanmuthalA nAganaka rArthamakkum
pOkamuyar vIdupeRap ponnaruLsey thamaikaNdu
nAkamalai nAyakanAr nalladippOthu adainthEnE

Here the reference is to Mahaa ViSwaasam that leads to the fruition of one's prapatthi.

MEANING:
I offer my prapatthi at the holy feet of Varadaraajan inspired by the thought that He granted
the boons of samsaara bhOgam and Moksham (uyar veedu) as desired by them to the
offending crow, VibhishaanaaN, Droupathi, Kshathrabhandhu, GajEndran/KaaLiyan, Sivan,
Brahmaa and all the other dEvaas.
COMMENTS:
Swamy Desikan's salutations of Kaanchi Varadaraajar are always meaningful. Here, Swamy
Desikan salutes the Lord of Atthi Giri as Naaga Malai Naayakanaar. Naagam means an
elephant (Hasthi) and therefore Naaga Malai Naayakanaar refers to the Lord of Hasthi
(Atthi Giri). Swamy Desikan states here that he has arrived at the lotus feet of Naaga Malai
Naayakan (nall adippothu adainthEn). He refers to his SaraNaagathy at those sacred feet of
the Lord of Kaanchi.
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PAASURAM 5: UKAKKUMAVAI- THE FIVE ANGAMS OF PRAPATTHI

me e eo
eo oe e
te
.

ukakkumavai yukanthukavA vanaiththumozhin thuRavukuNa
mikatthuNivu peRavuNarnthu viyankAva lenavaritthus
sakatthiloru pukalilAth thavamaRiyEn mathitkacchi
nakarkaruNai nAthanainal ladaikkalamA yadainthEnE.

MEANING:
Here, Swami Desikan reveals that he has performed the prapatthi at the Lord's feet in the
proper manner with the five angaas of Prapatthi. The words of the prabhandham connected
to the five angams are :
ukakkumavai ukanthu -- AnukUlya sankalpam
ukavAvanaitthumozhindhu -- prathikUlya varjanam
mikath thuNivu peRavuNarndhu -- mahaa visvaasam
kAvalena varitthu -- gopthruthva varaNam
pukalillAth thavamaRiyEn -- kArpaNyam
With these words, Swami Desikan points out that he has performed aathma samarpaNam
with its five angams as established by His Achaaryas .
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PAASURAM 6: ALAVUDAYAAR THE FOUR KINDS OF PRAPATTHI

o c
o

eot e .

aLavudaiyA radainthArkku mathanuraiyE koNdavarkkum
vaLavuraithan thavanaruLE manniyamA thavaththOrkkuNG
kaLavozhivA remarenna visainthavarkkuNG kAvalarAn
thuLavamudi yaruLvarathar thuvakkilenai vaiththEnE.

MEANING:
Here, Swami Deikan refers to the four kinds of Prapatthi: Svanishtai, Ukthi nishtai, Achaarya
nishtai and Bhaagavatha nishtai. Swami says that he has performed prapatthi at the lotus feet
of Varadhan, who grants the boon of Moksham to one, who has performed any one of the
four kinds of Prapatthi.

COMMENTS:
The four kinds of prapatthi are :
1. Sva-nishtai: Direct self surrender to the Lord withthe clear knowledge of Prapatthi as angi
and its coresponding angams.This is now rare. Great ones like Swamy Nammaazhwaar and
Swamy Desikan might have practised it.
2. Ukthi Nishtai: Those without special knowledge about the angams of Prapatthi like
Anukoolya sankalpam recognize their ananya gathithvam (not having recourse to any one as
their protector and pray to the Lord with mahaa Viswaasam in Him as their Rakshakan. They
repeat the Prapathti Vaakyams uttered by their Achaaryans and realize poorNa prapatthi.
This is the tradition of Ahobila Matam Achaaryaas.
3. Achaarya Nishtai: Those who stay within the fold of Achaaryaa's saraNaagathy to the
Lord. The Achaaryan prays to the Lord for the acceptance of the surrender of the Jeevan.
This is the tradition followed at Srimath Andavan Asramams.
4. Bhaagavatha Nishtai: Here, one stays within the SaraNaagathy performed a
PoorNaadhikaari dear to the Lord (Bhagavathar other than one's Achaaryan).
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PAASURAM 7: UMATHU ADIGAL ADAIKINREN -- DONE ONLY
ONCE FOR A SINGLE PALAN

t e
m e
e m
o t .

umathadika LadaikinRE NenRorukA luraiththavarai
amaiyumini yenpavarpO lanjalenak karamvaiththun
thamathanaiththu mavarththamakku vazhangiyunthA mikaviLangu
mamaivudaiya varuLALa radiyiNaiyai yadainthEnE.

The meaning of the Abhaya Mudra of Varadhan is celebrated here.

MEANING:
The Lord is resplendent at the sight of the prapannaa and blesses him to enjoy all of His
Isvaryam and looks at the prapannaa with great compassion and reveals through the gesture
of Abhaya Mudraa that his (jeevan's) one-time prapatthi alone is sufficient to enjoy all of that
bliss and Iswaryam of the Lord. adiyEn surrenders my aathmaa to that glorious and merciful
Lord, who grants such matchless boons.

COMMENTS:
The Prapatthi Vaakyam equivalent is Umathu adikaL adaihinREn. The Prapatthi has to be
done only once with the utterance of the Prapatthi Vaakyam. The Prapannan becomes known
as orukkaal uraitthavar. Bhagavaan reveals through His abhaya mudhrai that it (the single
utterance of Prapatthi Vaakyam) is enough to gain the Phalan of Moksham (anjal yenRu
karam vaitthu --ini amayum yenpaar). The satisfied Lord gives all of His Iswaryam for the
prapannan to enjoy and is resplendent with joy (Tamathu anaitthum avar tamakku
vazhangiyum Thaamm miha viLangum amaivu udaya AruLaaLar).
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PAASURAM 8: THINMAI KURAYAAMAIKKUM -- THE CODE OF
CONDUCT AFTER PRAPATTHI


e o e

m .

thiNmaikuRai yAmaikkum niRaikaikkun thIvinaiyA
luNmaimaRa vAmaikku muLamathiyi lukakkaikkun
thaNmaikazhi yAmaikkun tharikkaikkun thaNikaikkum
vaNmaiyudai yaruLALar vAsakangaL maRavEnE.

Here, the conductance of one's life in the post-prapatthi period is described by our
paramaachaaryaa, Swami Desikan.

MEANING:
adiyEn repeatedly reflects on the meaning of the Lord's charama slOkam and the assurances
given by Him there to the one, who has performed prapatthi. adiyEn reminds myself that as a
Prapannan, that I must have unshakable faith in the assured fruits of my prapatthi.
adiyEn prays for the further enhancement of my bhakthi and Jnaanam. adiyEn shall never
forget my utter servitude to You and You alone. I shall stay in a happy and tranquil mood
with the knowledge of the essence of the rahasyaarthaas. adiyEn will bear my days on the
earth without agitation over the delay in realizing moksham. adiyEn will forget the sorrows of
Samsaaram that is inevitable during the days on this earth after performing my prapatthi at
Your Sacred Feet. This would be the way, adiyEn will spend my post-prapatthi life.
COMMENTS:
Swamy Desikan sums up his vows after Prapatthi here. He says that He will not forget the
utterances of the Lord (Charama slOkam) at the battle field of Kuru KshEthra (AruLaaLar
vaachakangaL maRavEn). His post-prapatthi state of being is also summed up here :
1. thiNmay kuRayAmai without dimunition of his mahaa viswaasam
2. niRaikai To be filled with jnaanam
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3. thee vinayAl uNamai maRavAmai not forgetting the truth due to paapams
4. uLa mathiyil uhakkai Being joyous over the acquired thatthva thraya jnaanam from the
Achaaryas
5. thamai kazhiyAmai not losing the feeling of kaarpaNyam
6. tharikkai Holding on as a dhruptha prapannan until moksha siddhi results at the end of
allotted life
7. thaNikai Being oblivious of samsaaric thaapams .
For staying in this state of equilibrium during the post-prapatthi period, adiyEn would not
forget the Lord's assurances housed in the charama SlOkam (aruLaaLar vaachakangaL
maRavEn).
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PAASURAM 9

m eo e


o t .

surithininai vivaiyaRiyun thuNivudaiyAr thUmozhikaL
parithimathi yAsiriyar pAsuransErn tharukkaNangaL
karuthiyoru theLivALAR kalakkamaRuth thaththikirip
parithimathi nayanamudai paramanadi paNinthEnE.

MEANING:
As a prapannaa, adiyEn worships always the Lotus feet of PeraruLaaLan with a tranquil
mind calmed by the clear understanding of the meanings of Sruthis, Smruthis, AzhwAr's Sri
Sookthis, Achaaryaa's Sri Sookthis that deal with the sookshmaarthams of Vedaanthams.

COMMENTS:
Familiarizing oneself with Vedams, Smruthis, Azhwaar aruLiccheyalkaLs, Achaarya's sacred
works and developing an understanding the subtle meanings of Vedaantham based on such
Jn~aanam, one develops clear Jn~aanam, banish their mental confusions and worship Lord
Varadaraajan's sacred feet. Swamy Desikan states that with a clear mind based on the
understanding of the subtle meanings of Vedams, Smruthis and other sacred lore, he has
chased away his ajn~aanam and offered his saraNaagathy to Atthi Giri AruLaaLa Perumaan,
who has the Sun and the Moon as His eyes (arukkaNankaL karuthi --kalakkam aRutthu--
Parithi Mathi nayanam udai Paraman adi paNinthEn).
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PAASURAM 10: THIRUMAGAL (ATHMA SAMARPANAM, THE ANGI
OF PRAPATTHI)

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thirumakaLun thiruvadivun thiruvaruLun theLLarivu
marumaiyilA maiyumuRavu maLappariya vadiyarasunG
karumamazhip paLippamaippunG kalakkamilA vakaininRa
aruL varathar nilaiyilakki lampenanA namizhnthEnE

MEANING:
adiyEn has joined without fail the majestic and glorious feet of the Lord, who is never
separated from His beloved consort. He has the most bewitching beauty. He is an ocean of
mercy. His dayaa for His devotees is unmatched. He is omniscient. He is easy of access to
His devotees. He has the chEthanams and achEthanams as His body. He is the supreme
Lord of all this universe. He is the one, who creates, protects and destroys all of this world
and its beings. These auspicious attributes will never part company with the Lord. adiyEn
has now arrived at the sacred feet of PeraruLaaLan of such anantha kalyaaNa guNa
vaibhavam just as a clearly aimed arrow reaches its intended target without fail.

COMMENTS:
Swamy Desikan states that he has indissolubly blended with the sacred feet of Lord Varadhan
of such ananatha KalayaaNa guNams through the performance of Prapatthi. Swamy Desikan
describes the greatness and glories of Lord Varadaraajan with chiseled words :
He has Mahaa Lakshmi (ThirumahaL), who never leaves Him ; He has the most enchanting
body (Thiru Vadivu); He has apaara karuNai for those, who sought His refuge (ThiruvaruL);
He has clear Jn~aanam and is Omniscient (teLL aRivu); He is bhaktha sulabhan (arumai
ilaamai); He has the chEtanams and achEthanams as His body (uRavu/Sambhandham); He
has the matchless ancient Kingdom (aLappu ariya adi arasu); He is the One, who creates,
protects and dissolves every thing as the Supreme Being (amaippu /creation, aLippu/
protection and azhippu/destruction). He is changeless (kalakkam ilaavahai ninRavan). He
stays as the boon granting Varadhar (aruL Varadhar). He is a steady target (nilai ilakku) for
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the Mumukshus to offer their Prapatthi. adiyEn has arrived at this target like an arrow shot
by a skilled archer and have united with those sacred feet (AruL Varadhar nilai ilakkil ambhu
yena nAnn amizhnthEn).
The following Veda manthram is the source for the choice of Swamy Desikan's words,
ambhena naann amizhnthEn :
praNavO dhanu: SarO hyAthmA Brahma tallakshyam uchyathE
apramatthEna vEddhavyam Saravath tanmayO bhavEth

MEANING OF THE ABOVE MANTHRAM:
When a skilled archer fixes an arrow on his bow and with total concentration aims that arrow
at a desired target and shoots that arrow, latter flies towards the aimed target, enters it and
becomes one with it (tanmayO bhavathy). Vedam uses this comparison to Prapatthi. The
bow is PraNavam; the arrow is Jeevan; the target is Brahman. When this arrow is shot at the
target by the skilled archer (achaaryan), then the Jeevan successfully arrives at the target and
becomes one with it.
Arul Varadar
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PHALA SRUTHI PAASURAM 11 SUMMING UP OF
ADAIKKALAPPATTHU PRABHANDHAM

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ARupayan vERillA vadiyavarka Lanaivarkku
mARumathan payanumivai yorukAlum palakAlu
mARupaya nenavEkaN daruLALa radiyiNaimER
kURiyanaR kuNavurika Livaipaththung kOthilavE.

MEANING:
These ten verses dealing with adiyEn's SaraNaagathi at the sacred feet of the Lord of
Kaanchi will shine without any faults forever. Bhagavathaas seek the Lord as upaayam and
Phalan. They observe prapatthi once at His feet. The fruits of the one-time prapatthi,
however last forever and are most enjoyable. Understanding the above truths and the
significance of such a prapatthi, adiyEn has performed my own prapatthi and sung about
them in a manner matching the blemishless anushTaanam of aathma samarpaNam.
kivtaikR k is<hay kLya[ gu [zailne ,
Imte ve qe zay ve daNt gu rve nm>.
kavithArkika simhAya kalyANa guNa Saline
Srimathe vEnkateSAya vEdhAntha guravE namaha

Sri PerumdEvi thaayaar sametha Sri Varadharaaja parabrahmaNE namaha
Swami Desikan thiruvadigaLE SaraNam
Daasan,
Oppiliappan Koil Varadachari Sadagopan